Loose-leaf binder



Nov. 29, 1949 l J. J. BUCKNER LOOSE-LEAF BINDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1946,

IN VEN TOR Nov. Z9, 1949 J. J. BUCKNER 2,489,448

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed June 21, ,1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY da/7 c/m e A br E Nov. 29, 1949 J. J. BUCKNER I LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Jun 2l, 1946 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .l untill/I INVENTOR JBL/ck er Patented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOSE-LEAF BINDER poration of Delaware Application June 21,

3 Claims.

The invention relates to loose leaf binders particularly binders of the type having leafengaging posts mounted on a binder bar and an associated detachable transfer bar carrying leafengaging posts.

The invention provides a binder having a binder bar and back construction adjustable between sheet binding and expanded positions with sheet-engaging posts mountedA on one binder bar, a multi-position latch means on the other binder bar and a transfer bar provided with sheet engaging posts, wherein these posts are arranged for cooperation so that the latch in one position secures the binder bars in sheet binding relation by engaging both the binder bar carried posts and the transfer bar, the latch means having a second position disengaged from the binder bar carried posts but engaged with the transfer bar providing for movement of the binder bars from sheet-binding position to the extended position limited by suitable means on the expandable back members so the sheets may be opened to lie substantially flat, and a third position in which the latch means releases both the sheet-engaging posts on the binder bar and the transfer bar so that the transfer bar mai7 be used independently in manipulating the sheets to transfer, remove and insert sheets on the binder bar carried sheet-engaging posts in a convenient manner.

The invention provides a loose leaf binder having sheet-engaging posts arranged to normally bind the sheets in the binder with means for controlling the operation of the binder to lock the sheets in compressed relation in one position of said means, provide for relative movement of the binder members and sheet-binding posts between sheet-binding position and an expanded position when the binder is open, so that the sheets are looselyV bound and arranged for opening movement into a position where they will lie flat for reference, and a third position wherein the transfer bar may be disengaged from the binder to provide for the removal of sheets from posts, as well as their transfer from one position to another and to allow for the insertion of new sheets.

The invention provides a three position latch on one binder bar of a loose leaf binder arranged for movement of the binder bars between sheet 1946, Serial No. 678,465

binding and expanded position in which the latch cooperates to secure a transfer bar having sheetengaging posts thereon, when the sheet-engaging posts on the other binder bar are engaged by said latch, in one position to retain the binder in sheet-binding relation. The latch has a second position wherein the sheet-engaging posts carried by the other binder bar are released to provide for movement of the binder bars to the expanded position while the transfer bar is retained in latched position with the sheet-engaging posts thereon overlapping the sheetengaging posts on the binder bar to hold the sheets in loosely bound relation in the extended position to lie substantially fiat. A third position of the latch releases both the transfer bar and the binder bar carried-posts to provide for the insertion, removal and transfer of sheets.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan View of the back portion of a binder incorporating the invention, having portions broken away and shown in section to illustrate details of construction of the latch.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows the back portion of the binder in expanded position in perspective, with portions broken away and shown in section to illustrate details of construction and with the transfer bar shown in detached, partially removed position.

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary portion of one end of a binder in perspective with the back portions in partially expanded position and the transfer bar in released position, elevated so that it may be detached from the binder in sheet transferring operation.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of one end of the back portion of a binder similar to that shown in Fig. 1 with portions broken away and shown in cross-section to illustrate a dilferent position of the latch from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a cross-section taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 6 with the back members shown in expanded position.

Fig. 8 is a cross-section taken on line 8-8 of 50 Fig. 7, the latch being in the position of Fig. 6.

A pair of back members I and 2 are mounted for sliding movement relative to each other between sheet binding and extended positions, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 3 respectively. Outer baci; member i is provided with a pair of guide channels arranged one at each end o the back member to slidably receive guide rails il on the ends oi inner back member 2. Guide channels 3 and rails i are provided with interengaging stop members 5 for normally retaining the back members against complete detachment at an outer limit of sliding movement defining the extended position of the back members. Outer baci: member l is formed of an angular metal baci: plate 5 having a ange "l forming a binder bar. Suitable cover material 8 is applied over the inner and outer faces of back member t, with the use of filler as desired, and is also extended to provide the covering for cover member Q. Covering material 3 is arranged on back member l and cover 9 so that it will provide a hinge portion between cover 9 and the back member, as indicated at l0.

Back member 2 has a metal back plate i lY and a separate binder bar l2'y united by covering material i3 to form an angle back member, the covering material forming a hinge il between binder bar i2 and cover i5 over which it extends, as shown for example, in Figs. 2 and 7. With this construction, binder bar l2 is hingeable at IS relative to the remaining portion of the back member formed by the covered back plate Il to facilitate the operation of the sheet-engaging posts in a manner that will be hereinafter described.

Inner back member 2 has two sets of sheetengaging posts I1 and I8 respectively, secured at one end to binder bar I2, and each having the opposite end extending inwardly toward the other back member in spaced parallel relation. In the drawings, two posts I1 are illustrated as arranged near opposite ends of' binder bar l2 and one post I8 is illustrated in the central portion of binder bar I2. It is to be understood that additional posts may be added to each set and arranged in spaced'parallel relation for engaging in perforations` in the binding edges of a plurality of loose leaf sheets, in a manner well-known in the art. Posts I1 are of'tubular construction and are internally threaded to threadedly receive extensible post sections I9, having a latch engaging member on the free end of each extensible post section. Sheet-engaging post I8 is of tubular form, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8.

A transfer bar 2| is provided with acentral post 22 for-slidable engagement in tubular post I and tubularv posts 22` positioned thereon to receive posts I1 in slidable relation therein. Extensible post sections i9 are arranged to slide in posts 23 so that latch-engaging member 2E# on each section will extend through apertures in the transfer bar for engagement by the latch mechanism to be described. Transfer bar 2l has a pair of latchengaging members 24 mounted thereon in positions intermediateposts 22 and 23 and extending outwardly for engagement-with the latch mechamsm.

The latch mechanism is mounted on outer bacia member I and has a channel member 25 secured to the outer face or" flange or binder bar i for cooperation therewith to provide a latch housing for slidably receiving latch bar 25. At the central portion, latch bar 25 is provided with an operating button 21 extending through a slot 23 in channel member 25, covering material 8 and "i position indicating plate 29 on the outside of the binder where it is accessible for manual operation to slide the latch bar back and forth into three different positions. The three positions are indicated on position indicating plate 2S, by numerals 1, 2 and 3, as shown for example in Figs. l and 6 where button 2 is shown in two different positions. Rivets 30, see Figs. 3 and 8 secure channel member 25 and binder bar 'i together in assembled relation and in addition, extend through slots 3l in latch bar 25 for guiding and limiting the sliding movement of the latch bar relative to the binder bar.

The end portions of latch bar 26 in alignment with posts Il and 23 are formed with keyhole slots 32 having the portion of smallest width at the left-hand end, as illustrated in Fig. 6 in a positioncorresponding t0 the first position or locked position of latch bar .2S and button 2l opposite the numeral l on position indicating plate 29. rilhe remainder of keyhole slot 32 is of greater width than the dimension of the head portions on latch-engaging members 2B, so that for the other two positions of latch bar 26, it will not be operative to have locking` engagement with latchengaging members 2&3. Therefore, whenever the binder back members are moved into a sheet compressing or bindingV position, latch-engaging members 2li will extend through keyhole slots 32 and post sections IQ are properly adjusted so that latch member 26 may be moved to the right, as shown in Figs. 6 andV 8 tohave the narrow portion or" slot 32 receiveV theA reduced portions 33 of latchengaging membersv 2li-for effectively latching the binder bars together'through the medium of posts ll and extensiblepost sections i9. In this position, the binder bars are held rigidly connected together against slidable movement of the back members relativeto eachother. When the parts are in this position, latch-engaging members 24 on transfer bars 2| will have the reduced portions 34 thereof extending through apertures in binder bars 1 andv into-keyhole slots 35 in latch bar 26 for engagement in the narrow portion ofy slots 35 in the manner shown in Fig. l. It will be noted that the narrow portion of slots 35 extends through both the first and second positions for latch bar 25 with the enlarged end arranged in the third'position only.

The above described construction ofl the latchmechanism therefore provides for the locking of the transfer bar and thebinder bar carried posts on binder bar l2 to binder bar 'I when latch bar 26 is inthe positionindicated by the numeral l in Fig. l. Fig. 1 shows latch member 26 and button 2l in the position described; The sheets engaged on the posts carried by the'transfer bar and binder bar l2 are thus held in compact or compressed bound relation with the binder bars retained against relative movement to'each other.

By moving button 2-'5- manually to a central po-- sition in slot 28fopposite the numeral 2 on position indicating plate 29, as shown in Fig. 6, latch bar 25 vwill bemoved into a positionso that latch-engaging membersV 20 carried by post sections i l' may be disengaged from binder bar 'l and latch member 2t through-the enlarged portions of slots 32. still retains latch-engaging members 24 in locked engagement with binder bar 'l so that transfer bar 2l may not be detached from binder back. member l. Under these` circumstances, back members I and 2 may be slidably moved apart from the sheetbinding position above described to the limit of movementprovided for by guide However, this position of latch bar 2E channels 3 and rails 4 until s top members 5 are engaged as shown in Figs.'4,'7 and 8. This retains the leaves carried by the several posts Il and I8 in loosely bound relation againstdetachment from the binder and provides for the separation of sheets, so that when the binder is opened and laid upon a nat horizontal surface, the sheets in the loosely boundA relation will lie substantially flat to provide for easy access'to information adjacent the bound edges.

Should it be desired to remove, insert or transfer sheets bound by the posts in the binder, then button 2l is manually operated into the position indicated by the numeral 3 on position-indicating plate 29. This will move the larger end of keyholel slots 32 and 35 into position to release latch-engaging members 20 and 24. As a result, transfer bar 2I may be disengaged from back member I and moved away from the back member into positions, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, in which the posts on the transfer bar and also the posts on binder bar I2 will be moved into an inclined position with respect to the bac-k member and binder bar I2 will be moved upon its hinge connection I6 relative to back plate II.

The transfer bar may then be disengaged from the telescoping arrangement of posts 22 and 23 with posts Il and I8 so that all, or any desired sheet or sheets, may be removed from engagement with the posts on the transfer bar and the posts I'I and I8. In addition, selective sheets may be removed frorn the binder by the manipulation of the sheets on the posts carried by binder bar I2 and the transfer bar. When the desired shifting, transfer, removal and insertion of sheets has been completed, the transfer bar then has its posts slidably engaged with posts I1 and I 8' in the manner illustrated in the drawings, when it may be moved into position relative to binding member I to engage latch-engaging members 24 in slots 35 for attachment to binder bar 'I through the operation of latch bar 26 to lock the transfer bar to the binder bar.

The invention, therefore, provides a binder having a post I arranged to provide for extension to receive and bind a sheet body of Variable size in which the binder bars may be rigidly connected together by posts I1 and extensions I9 thereof, to hold sheets in sheet-binding position. Then, through the release of one binder bar from posts I?, the back members may be moved into an expanded position through cooperation of the guide members so the binder may be laid upon a ilat surface with the covers in open position. Then the sheets may be moved apart in loosely bound relation and opened into position to lie substantially iiat and provide for convenient reference to all of the sheets in the binder.

The transfer bar provides for the convenient shifting and transfer of sheets in this binder construction when released from one binder bar, while at the same time, cooperating with the sheet-engaging posts on another of the binder bars to facilitate the support of the sheets in loosely bound relation. This cooperation between the transfer bar, the sheet-engaging posts, the latch means and the binder members, greatly facilitates the binding and reference to the sheets carried by the binder, as well as the convenient manipulation thereof to insert, remove and transfer the sheets.

The invention claimed is:

l. The combination in a loose leaf binder of a pair of binder bars, a transfer bar, a slidable multi-position latch means on one binder bar,

at least two sets of leaf-engaging posts on the other binder bar, one set of said leaf-engaging posts having latch-engaging portions carried by sections of said posts adjustable to vary the effective post length, said transfer bar having latch-engaging portions and leaf-engaging posts thereon cooperating with the other set of leafengaging posts on said other binder bar for cooperation in binding sheets with, but independently of, said one set of leaf-engaging posts, and means carrying said binder bars adjustable between` xed limits, said multi-position latch means being provided with a plurality of elements constructed and arranged to selectively engage said latch-engaging parts on one said set of leaf-engaging posts and said transfer bar in a plurality of cooperative adjusted positions whereby said latch means engages said latchengaging parts on both said transfer bar and one set of posts in one position to lock said binder bars and sheet-engaging posts in stationary sheet-binding position, said latch means releasing said one set of posts and engaging said latch portions on said transfer bar in another position for movement of said binder bars between limits controlled by said binder bar carrying means with sheets held in loosely bound relation when said binder bars are moved apart, and said latch means having another position wherein both said one set of posts and said transfer bar are disengaged from said binder bar carrying said latch means for releasing said sheets for transfer and removal from said binder.

2. The combination in a loose binder of a pair of binder bars, binder back means carrying said binder bars and adjustable between sheet binding and extended positions, one of said binder bars carrying two sets of sheet-engaging posts, one set of said posts having latch-engaging parts thereon, a transfer bar adapted for engagement with the other binder bar and having sheet-engaging posts thereon for cooperation with the other set of posts on said binder bar for binding sheets thereon in all positions of adjustment of said binder bars with said binder back means,

latch-engaging parts on said transfer bar, and latch means on said other binder bar formed of a plurality of sets of parts, one set of said parts selectively engaging the latch-engaging parts on said one set of posts and said transfer bar in one position to lock sheets in said sheet-binding position between said binder bars, another set of said parts engaging only said latch-engaging parts on said transfer bar in a second position to retain sheets in loosely bound relation with said binder bars in said extended position, and another set of said parts having releasing engagement with both latch-engaging parts in a third position to provide for detachment of said transfer bar for sheet transfer and removal operations.

3. The combination in a loose leaf binder of a pair of binder bars, binder back means carrying said binder bars for adjustment between sheet binding and extended positions, one of said binder bars having sheet-engaging posts thereon provided with latch-engaging parts, a transfer bar associated with the other binder bar having sheet-engaging posts thereon cooperating with said sheet-engaging posts on said binder bars for binding sheets between said binder bars, latch-engaging parts on said transfer bar, and latch means on said other binder bar said latch means having a plurality of parts adapted to selectively engage said latch-engaging parts on 7 Y 8 said sheet-engaging posts and said transfer bar l A ini a plurality of4` adjusted' positions, including a Y REFERENGES CITED rst position; to:v .lock saidA bars in said sheet.d Thegfollowingfreferences 2m2-0f-v recordv inY the binding" position, in a second position to engage filev oi thisfpatentc only' sa'id latch-engaging parts on` said` transfer 5 Y .r ba-rtot retain sheets in loosely bound relation With UNITED* TAI'ES PATENTS said binder bars movable to said extendedl p'osi- Number Nam@ Date tion). and in a third position to release both 875,334 MOldeI; Jan- 7, 1903 latch-engaging parts to detach said transfer barr 1;874,031 Dawson Y Aug. 30; 1932 andasheet-emgaging posts'from said other` binder. 1o 2,14%;7-89 Ungen Felo` 28. 1939 barY so"y that sheets maybe removed, inserted and transferred.

J OI-IN J. BUCKNER. 

